Join Community Emergency Response Team

Do you know what to do after an earthquake or other major disaster? We can train you to be prepared. During the first few hours and days after a disaster, we will be overwhelmed, leaving families, neighborhoods, and businesses on their own for hours or days. By joining the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) we will teach you in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, you can then assist others in your neighborhood or workplace following a disaster.

The CERT Academy provides a minimum of 24 hours of classroom and hands-on training that is held at Fire Station 34 over nine weeks. CERT Academy classes are free and there are no special physical requirements to participate in CERT. Below is the schedule for the next CERT Academy:

February 21, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 1 Disaster Preparedness

February 28, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 2 Fire Safety and Utility Controls

March 7, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 3 Disaster Medical Operations, Part 1

March 14, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 4 Disaster Medical Operations, Part 2

March 21, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 5 Light Search and Rescue Operations

March 28, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 6 CERT Organization

April 4, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 7 Disaster Psychology

April 11, 2018, 6-9 PM Unit 8 Terrorism

April 14, 2018, 8:30 AM-12:00 PM Unit 9 Final

You can sign up for CERT if:

1. You live OR work with a business with a physical address in National City OR Lincoln Acres.
2. Send an e-mail to cert@nationalcityca.gov or call (619) 336-4556.

If you do not live OR work in the City of National City OR Lincoln Acres, there are other CERT programs in San Diego County that you can locate by visiting the County of San Diego CERT Contacts.